After more than 30 years with The Sydney Morning Herald and Fairfax Media in Australia, Greg Growden now writes exclusively online for ESPNscrum. Never afraid to step on toes, you can expect plenty of compelling insight from one of Australia's most renowned rugby writers.

The Greg Growden Medal

Cummins earns round 9 top points

Greg Growden

April 14, 2014

Consistent performances by the Western Force's Alby Mathewson and Ben McCalman has led to a log-jam at the top of the Greg Growden Medal points tally. Mathewson, the most consistent scrum-half among the Australian provinces, and the ever reliable No. 8 McCalman have joined Reds playmaker Quade Cooper in top spot.

Cooper had held a substantial lead for several weeks, but that wasn't going to last with Mathewson and McCalman so instrumental in the Force's unexpected run of victories. Mathewson, McCalman and Cooper have all now polled in five matches this season.

Also hovering near the top is Force captain Matt Hodgson, who had a spirited openside flanker struggle with his Waratahs opposite Michael Hooper in Perth. Both received 7.5points. Still the standout performance of the round came from Force winger Nick Cummins, who seized on every opportunity provided to him to finish with a hat-trick of tries.